Theoretical and empirical studies on ex-ante as well as post rating and establishing methodologies for Structural Reform Special Zones

点击翻译按钮获取中文摘要

In this research, we analyzed special economic regions in order to clarify what are factors to promote not only economic welfare and economic activities in those areas. Mail surveys, in-depth interviews and econometric analyses were intensively conducted to achieve the above goals. Among them, the following analyses are representing examples :(1) relationship between innovations of SMEs (Small- and Medium-sized Enterprise) and special economic regions as well as industrial clusters ;(2) relationship between medical expenditures and the utilization of eHealth System, which is aimed to apply IT (Information Technology) in the medical field ; and(3) ainternational comparative study of industrial upgrading and innovations in industrial parksSpecial Economic Zones (SEZ) in Thailand, Vietnam, the Philippines, and Indonesia. In all above researches, establishing special economic regions in Japan and in other counties are proved to have a certain impact on the regional welfare and economic conditions. Especially, in the medical field, the regions which have been utilizing eHealth systems are proved to reduce medical expenditures, and it is needless to emphasize the role of SEZs in the East Asian economic development. This research strongly supports the hypothesis and even inside Japan, special economic regions had a positive role to the revitalization of the regions.